I have worked in Animal Welfare for over a decade, starting my career right out of high school as an adoption "Match Maker", a job focused on helping people and companion animals find each other and begin that amazing experience of sharing a life with a four legged friend. During my first few years working in a shelter, I had the privilege of meeting hundreds of amazing dogs and cats and falling in love with so many of them. I therefore always assumed that I would be the one to find my dog, but in fact, it was him who decided to find me. During the summer of 2008, I was working part time at a local shelter, and part time at my parents gift shop in LaConner. One day, while I was working at my parent's store, I was beginning to wrap up for the day, and in comes a little border collie/corgi mix prancing in as if he'd come into the shop a hundred times before. I waited for an owner to follow him in, thinking he was off leash and had just gotten ahead of someone. He came all the way into the store, sniffed around, and came up to sniff me. I remember I asked " well hello, who do you belong to?" and he just looked at me and then turned and headed out the front door. I followed him out the door and looked around for his owner. Seeing no one, and watching him head down the street, I decided to close the shop and get my car and go after him. By the time I got my car and down on the main street of town, I had lost him. I drove around for about ten minutes and thought, perhaps he had found his way home, so in turn, decided to head home myself. Just as I was heading out of town, something stopped me and I decided to turn around and do one more pass through town. I found him sniffing around the local produce market and pulled into the parking lot. I of course always carry a leash in my car, and when I knelt down and approached him, I was able to get the leash on and lift him into the car. The local humane society was already closed, so I decided to take him to my shelter for the night, knowing that I'd take him to the local jurisdiction in the morning in case anyone was looking for him. I couldn't help but wish he didn't belong to anyone, because as far as I was concerned, he was exactly the dog I had been looking for and as we pulled out of town, I had a feeling he was going to be the one. The next day I took him to the humane society and he spent the next five days on a stray hold. I told them, I wanted to adopt him if no one claimed him and asked that they hold him after his stray hold so I could come and adopt him. As a third year collage student, I know they had questions about my ability to provide him a good home, but working in Animal Welfare gave me an advantage and my family and I were able to adopt him. He had charmed my parents, and sister just as much as he had charmed me. From that point on, Jasper and I literally spent almost every day together. While in college, I converted my SUV into the ultimate dog hangout for him and he traveled to school with me. My classes would last an hour and then I'd have an hour or so break and we'd walk all over campus together.

After graduating college, I continued my career in Animal Welfare and became an Operations Manger, and was able to bring him to work with me. I would bring puppies into my office and have Jasper teach them how to be well behaved (as only a herding breed dog can do). He helped raise a lot of dogs.

I was lucky to have an amazing dog trainer who helped train Jasper and I, and together we both learned how to communicate with each other, eventually with very little verbal communication, just subtle body language, gestures, and sounds. To say he was the smartest dog I've ever had would be an understatement.

Throughout my young adult life, Jasper was there at every moment. He continued to come work with me, as I worked at various organizations, each time charming co-workers, volunteers, and the public- when we would go to the shop.

We had so many adventures together, he came hiking, camping, and on day trips all over the Pacific Northwest. If we were going somewhere, he would come along, even if it was just up to the grocery store. No adventure was too big or too small for him. He loved to travel. We shared a love of nature and at every opportunity were jumping into the car to go explore together.

When friends, family, or co-workers were sad, he would walk over to them and snuggle into their lap. He would always try to give them kisses. If they were stressed, he'd want them to play ball with him and his happiness and enthusiasm would bring them comfort and laughter.

On more than one occasion, when I was working my parent's shop, I would have young children come into the store who were afraid of dogs. Parents would tell me stories of how their child had had a bad experience with a dog. Jasper was always kept behind the counter and would wag his nubbin of a tale and get really low to the ground when these kids would approach. I never asked him to do anything, it seemed by instinct he knew he needed to get as non-threatening to these kids as possible. Inevitably, the kids would see how cute and small he was making himself and they would want to say hello to him. I would then watch as they tentatively came over and reached out to him. Normally, Jasper would act very excited to see someone, but with these kids, as soon as the gate was open, would flop over on his back and expose his stomach so they could rub his tummy and he wouldn't move, so as not to scare them. I would watch these kids warm up to Jasper and after several minutes of petting him start laughing and visibly relax. He'd let them pet him all over and would continue to stay low and as calm as possible (which was hard for him). This happened on several occasions throughout his life and each time I was blown away by his ability to read these kids and provide them a positive experience with a dog. Each time I would watch in complete awe of him, knowing how special of a dog he really was and how lucky I was to have him in my life.

Jasper was there for me through so many life experiences, both good and bad. He was my constant rock in a world that is ever changing and sometimes truly magical and sometimes cruel. Throughout all of it, Jasper was by my side making me laugh, allowing me to experience unconditional love, and showing me how to truly live life to the fullest.

Everyone who met Jasper, loved him almost instantly. He had a magic about him and touched a lot of lives.

In the end, he left this world too soon, eight and half years with him simply wasn't enough. The night we made the decision, my entire family was able to come to the Vet Clinic and sit with him and say goodbye to him. When it came time for the final steps, my dad turned to me and ask "now what happens?" to which I replied, "now Jasper and I end our journey they way we started it, the two of us". My family respected the wish and left Jasper and I and our Vet. Saying goodbye to my little soul mate was the hardest thing I've ever done. I don't think the hole he's left in my heart will ever be filled, he took a piece of me with him when he left this world. I think that's what makes those of us who let these amazing beings into our life, a unique group. To open your heart and allow yourself to be loved by another being unconditionally, and to love another being unconditionally opens oneself up to the good and the bad, the love and the pain when they leave us. I personally wouldn't have it any other way. The memories, adventures, and experiences I shared with Jasper is worth the devastation of his passing. Jasper will forever be with me and I will be eternally grateful that he chose me, that out of all the people he could have found...he found me.